Is it bad to change from a 205-55/R16 Tire to a 195-55/R16 Tire?

Question

I have a BMW 1 Series, and it has as stock tires 205-55/R16 Continental Premium Contact SSR, it has been impossible for me to find those tires so I´m thinking about changing to a 195-55/R16 Kumho Runflats

Answer 1

It will throw off your speedometer and make your car sit a lot lower. It may affect how it handles.  You may contact BMW directly if you are having problems finding the tires or go to google.com and search Continental Premium Tires

Answer 2

It won't make that big of a difference, if any at all.

Answer 3

No it is not a good idea.  The Kuhmo's will have a smaller contact patch (less traction), smaller diameter which will result in speedometer and odometer error and a change in gearing and don't have enough load carrying capacity at the stock inflation pressures.

Where 195/55R16 is perhaps one of the least common tire sizes on the planet 205/55R16 91H is perhaps the most common (out of 1,740 different sizes on the market).  I have a really hard time believing you can not locate a run flat tire in the correct size.

Answer 4

they will be a few millimeters shorter but will work fine  

Answer 5

yep your car is going to be so pissed

Answer 6

i wouldn't do it you are going to change the performance and balance of your car if anything try to find 215-50R16. also pay attention to the speed rating is it S,T,H,V,Z ? all of these things will affect the performance and handling of your car it will also affect the rpm's.

Answer 7

its going to throw the speedometer of just little bit and it will also hurt the gas mileage just a small amunt,you may not notice it that much buit it will affect it,good luck.

Answer 8

stay with the stock size if possible speedo will be off a couple miles per hour with different sizes but can usually be fixed on newer cars just by entering a correction into the computer.

Answer 9

Try www.tirerack.com

Answer 10

That is not a drastic change and will work just fine!

and i bet it saved you a few bucks huh?

Answer 11

Well you'll lose some traction with the narrower tires.  I found a ton of that size tire for sale with a simple internet search, See link below.